Read Online The Mystery of the Uninvited Ghost by Julie Campbell - Free Book Online

adoption, with a fortune in trust for wise use when he was grown. And Dan might have landed in prison. Instead, he had found work and friends. Di had been letting her family’s changing fortunes make her miserable and lonely. Now she was a well-loved friend, though troubled temporarily. At one time or another, each member of the Bob-Whites had faced loneliness or danger, yet here they all were, sharing this happy moment with Hans and Juliana.
    Trixie had been thinking, It matters... and suddenly this became, I matter. Then she knew why she had flared at Hallie earlier that day. She had felt pushed aside.
    Across the table, seated next to Dan, Honey sat with her face softly framed by long honey-blond hair. She looked up and smiled. Trixie wanted to tell Honey how lucky she felt to have her for a friend and how important it was to pursue a life’s dream, but all she could do at the moment was to smile back.
    With the Bob-Whites helping, dishes and utensils were soon cleaned and stored away. One would never have guessed that a few of the workers were used to maid service.
    With the day’s work done, the Beldens and their friends gathered on the wide porch to relax in the cool downdraft from the glen. At first they all chattered about the weather, the raspberries, and the Lynch robbery. Gradually voices became silent, and Peter Belden picked up the ukulele he had kept from his own young years. While he accompanied the others, they sang the old sweet songs that fitted the mood of the evening.
    Once Hans said, “I thought American music was different. More—” He chopped the air with one hand.
    “Like this?” Mart clapped his hands and stamped his feet in a rock beat. His father chuckled, matching the rhythm on the ukulele while everybody clapped. With a whoop, Mart pulled Hallie to her feet. Silhouetted against the setting sun, they performed a stamping, twisting dance on the grass. Dan cut in, and Mart collapsed on the steps.
    “That was very nice, Mart!” Di exclaimed, her mood obviously brightened by the wild activity.
    “Nice?” Mart repeated. “Better than that, by far. Hallie excels at the terpsichorean art!”
    Solemnly Bobby said, “Hallie doesn’t look sick.” Maybe it isn’t catching,” Hallie called over her shoulder.
    Jim and Trixie joined the dance. Brian and Honey continued clapping while Peter Belden played his ukulele. Even Hans tapped his foot.
    “Want to dance?” Juliana invited him.
    “Are you asking me to throw my spine out of alignment?” Hans retorted. “I’ll wait for a waltz.”
    “One waltz, coming up,” Mr. Belden said. At once he switched to a Hawaiian melody that completely confused the dancers on the grass. Hans and Juliana danced alone on the porch. The others returned to the steps, with Dan making sure there was a place for Hallie to sit.
    Trixie was not used to sharing the limelight, and she didn’t quite know how to make room for her cousin in this fun time. She sensed that this was also true for Di and Honey.
    All summer, Bobby had been trying to learn to play his father’s ukulele. Mr. Belden placed the small boy’s pudgy fingers on the instrument and set him to strumming.
    Honey asked Bobby if he could play “Good Night, Ladies.” He couldn’t, but he tried mightily. Honey sang as sweetly as if he had not missed a note, then hugged him to say thank you.
    When the guests had gone, Trixie went to the kitchen to set the drop-leaf table. Hallie followed. She slapped her brow when she saw Trixie’s actions. “We’re not eating again!”
    “I’m setting the table for breakfast. I have to pick berries with the boys in the morning.”
    “I'll help.”
    Trixie stared at Hallie’s long, bare legs and arms. Hallie answered the look. “I’ll wear Cap’s grubbies.”
    Trixie realized that Hallie was trying to make amends for a day gone wrong in many small ways. She appreciated the gesture and extended her own olive branch. “We better unpack them tonight. We’ll get